I'm huge in Chennai...

Apparently, we made quit an impression.

First, there was the stir that we created when we walked the streets...

Afterall, Jeff and I are the "height of fashion" (like the sign says, "6 FT 2"). We stuck out in the crowd. And of course, Jo-Elle was a bit of a spectacle herself. Many folks in south India are just as dark as her---but African American pigmentation and Indian pigmentation just don't match up, so people would glance at her, and then stop in their tracks for a double take. I guess there aren't a lot of black folks touring Tamil Nadu. (She talked to some Bermudans--or Bahamians--in Mysore that reported the same response in the street.) With crowded streets/sidewalks, we generally walked in line---and we took turns at the end so we could watch the reaction as people looked over the rest of the group... The gawks were something to see. Of course, I am used to people staring in wonder at me on the streets here in Chicago, but that's different...

But its not just our imposing presence---apparently, my words are resonating! Check the comment a couple postings down...follow the links and you will find that I am now being quoted in some Chennai blogs (not sure if they appreciate the words or not...). One of them includes a page from the Chennaist (wow, they are really reaching out, it wasn't that long ago that they got around to finally putting together the Chicagoist) that is a treatise of love for Madras (Chennai's old name). I think its a great description of the city---read up!

Quoting Jeff, "Ahh, the blogosphere..."